California man recounts tackling gunman on Paris-bound train

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — One of three Americans who foiled an attack on a Paris-bound train said he and his friends did whatever they could to disarm the gunman.

Anthony Sadler said in an interview set to air Wednesday on "NBC Nightly News" that he didn't think about what could have gone wrong until days later.

He said the gunman tried to fire at his friend, but the gun didn't go off.

Sadler, 23, a senior at Sacramento State University, along with Oregon National Guard specialist Alek Skarlatos and U.S. Airman Spencer Stone earned worldwide acclaim when they tackled the gunman carrying a handgun and assault weapon while the Americans were on vacation in August. Authorities identified the gunman as 26-year-old Ayoub El-Khazzani.

Sadler said in the NBC interview that he was napping when the sound of a gunshot and breaking glass woke him. He said Stone moved toward the gunman first and his two companions followed.

"And then we just did whatever we could to disarm him," Sadler said.

Sadler said the three have "have grown up talking about these kinds of things — what we would do in those situations. And we always said we would've acted. But you never know until it happens."

Sadler told NBC the experience has been surreal.

"I was just out of the country for the first time, trying to experience things," he said. "And now I'm a hero in another country. It's pretty crazy to think about."

The NBC interview with Lester Holt will air a day after Sadler appeared in a suit-and-tie on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." The audience applauded when Sadler said he and his friends "beat him down a little bit" while describing the encounter.

Since the incident, the childhood friends have fielded a congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama and been awarded France's highest honor by President Francois Hollande.

ABC announced that Skarlatos, 22, has been booked as part of the 21st season cast of "Dancing With the Stars." He returned to his home state of Oregon Sunday night.

Stone, 23, remained under military care in Germany after his hand was injured during the attack.